Euonymus plant named Moonshadow

ABSTRACT

The new cultivar Moonshadow is especially characterized by its broadleaf evergreen foliage which has pronounced yellow centers that cover the entire leaf except for narrow dark green margins, with the leaves inside the plant being of the same variegated color as the stem tips, thereby giving the plant as a whole a distinctive and striking light yellow appearance, accented delicately by the narrow green curled leaf margins.

The present invention comprises a new and distinctive cultivar ofEuonymus plant, botanically known as Euconymus fortunei, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Moonshadow.

Moonshadow is a sport of the Euonymus plant known by the cultivar nameSunspot, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,340. Moonshadow wasdiscovered by me in Perry, Ohio, in a cultivated area in which plants ofthe parent cultivar Sunspot were being grown. Moonshadow was discoveredin the form of two nodes on the segment of a branch of the parentcultivar in which the foliage showed improved variegation. The sport wasalso observed due to the unique showing of a larger golden spot in thecenter of the green leaf, and by the stems of the plant being yellow incolor. Continued observation of the sport, as well as the subsequentasexually reproduced plants thereof, convinced me that the sport is bothnew and distinct from the parent cultivar, as well as from all othercultivars of Euonymus plants of which I am aware.

The following unique combination of characteristics have been repeatedlyobserved and serve to distinguish Moonshadow as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. A distinctive variegation pattern in which a yellow spot or areacovers all of the leaf except for a narrow green margin around the outeredge of the leaf.

2. Green curled or wavy leaf margins.

3. Very short stem internodes, giving the overall plant a denselyfoliated appearance with very little bare stem showing.

4. Unusually light yellow stem color.

5. Semi-dwarf vigor, slower growing than the parent cultivar.

6. An attractive overall foliage texture due to the combination of wavyleaves and dense foliation.

7. A low broad habit, in contrast to the upright rounded habit of theparent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of Moonshadow by me commencing in October, 1981 inPerry, Ohio by cuttings has established that the foregoingcharacteristics and distinctions come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding generations.

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate,

on sheet 1, a typical two year old specimen plant of the new cultivar inperspective view.

Sheet 2 comprises a close-up photograph of a group of branches ofMoonshadow showing in more detail the leaf and stem characteristics. Thecolor in the photographs is as nearly true as possible in colorrenditions of this type. The photographs were taken outdoors in Lansing,Mich. between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. in mid-winter.

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar, with colorvalues being referenced to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused. The color values were taken in Ashtabula, Ohio at approximately10:00 a.m. on Jan. 8, 1986.

Form: Low, rounded, very dense, compact, slow growing; lower, broaderand more compact than the parent cultivar Sunspot.

Growth:

Two year plants.--Height, from about 10 to 12 inches; breadth, fromabout 12 to 15 inches.

Mature plants.--Height, from about 2 to 3 feet; breadth, from about 2.5to 3.5 feet.

Hardiness: Good winter hardiness is evidenced by the fact that plantsgrown outdoors have withstood winter temperatures of U.S.D.A. hardinesszone 5 with little protection, and U.S.D.A. hardiness zone 4 with somewind protection.

Stems (branchlets): Smooth, dull; color, intense yellow, Group 10B, withlittle or no green streaking. Short internodes from 2 to 10 mm. Finelytextured; from 2 to 5 mm. in diameter. Occasional aerial roots.

Axillary buds: Tiny, elongate, conical, less than 2 mm. long.

Foliage:

Type.--Broadleaf evergreen, petioled, opposite.

Shape.--Ovate to elliptic.

Petioles.--Length, 1 to 2 mm.; color yellow group 10B.

Size of leaf.--Length from 1.5 to 4.0 cm.; breadth from 1.0 to 1.5 cm.

Leaf texture.--Slightly thinner and much more wavy or curled than theparent plant Sunspot; smooth, upper surface glossy; lower surface dull.

Veining.--On leaf underside only the midrib is visibly veined; on leafupper surface, veins are difficult to see.

Leaf margins.--Crenate, serrate.

Color.--Center of leaf, upper side vivid Yellow Group 10 between B andC, covers all but a thin area around leaf edge, with areas of strongerconcentration toward Yellow 10-B. Center of leaf, under side, YellowGroup 1-D. Edges of leaf, upper side Deep Green Group 139-A-B. Edges ofleaf, under side, Deep Green Group 139 between B and C. On newlyexpanding leaves all colors tend towards a lighter green, but darkenquickly so that new leaves when fully expanded are very close in colorto the oldest leaves on a given plant.

Flower: No flowers have been observed on plants of Moonshadow grown todate.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euonymus plant known by thecultivar name Moonshadow, as illustrated and described, andcharacterized particularly as to uniqueness by the combinedcharacteristics of low, rounded, compact and shapely habit of growth;good winter hardiness, and thick broadleaf evergreen foliage havingpronounced large yellow centers with very thin dark green margins ofirregular depth, with the leaves inside the plant being of the samevariegated color as the stem tips, thereby giving the plant as a whole adistinctive and striking light yellow spotted appearance, with curlyleaf texture.